The Cruise Industry Ready to Tear Down Closets, Queer Destinations at ICS 2024
On November 12, the International Cruise Summit 2024 hosted a presentation on LGTBI+ tourism on cruise ships by activist, influencer and founder of Queer Destinations, Oriol Pàmies. His work, like his life, as he said, has been dedicated for 10 years to build companies that improve the lives of the community, as well as to give value to the activities of governments, destinations and companies dedicated to this tourism segment.
The presentation “THE IMPORTANCE OF LGBTQ+ SEGMENT IN CRUISE TOURISM” at ICS 2024 was essentially about whether the cruise industry is prepared to accommodate LGBTQ+ tourism in a healthy and safe manner.
He began with a sentence of the caliber that marketing is not the place to start, but rather the structure of the company is, beyond its public image or appeal to this audience.
Analyzing and taking actions in the companies to acquire a new adequate agenda is the way to implement LGBTQ+ tourism, said Pàmies. “This initiative comes from many years of trying to convince people without data to back me up”, was the reality that the businessman exposed, just before starting to exhibit the statistics that exist today about the LGTBQ+ community that can help grow the tourism and cruise sector, supported by data from Suisse Credit:
- 21% of Gen Z is openly part of the community.
- 10% of millennials are part of the community openly.
- LGTBQ+ families have increased by 120% in recent years.
- If the LGTBQ+ segment were a powerhouse, it would be the fifth largest economy in the world.
- The purchasing power of the community has increased to $4.7 trillion per year as a community. So now that this financial data exists, the community is ready to start investing in tourism.
- 70% of the community is willing to spend this money on turistic businesses that are committed to and strive for diverse and inclusive tourism.
Queer Destinations, the company Oriol Pàmies founded in 2019, already reaches 14 countries and millions of community tourists. Its role is to train international tourism stakeholders such as hotel brands or public administrations in matters of equality, sexual freedom and gender identity. The main objective is that the community can fully enjoy travel experiences with guarantees and assurances.
